Late last week, the Illinois Historic Advisory Council voted 10-0 to recommend the Gropius buildings for the National Register of Historic Places. This week, the National Park Service said it will fast-track its consideration of the proposal.

"[I]s all a bit of a scam," Becker writes. "The IHPA had their opportunity to act all the way back in May, months before the demolition, but they did nothing, finding on a convenient technicality that they had no standing in the case. Now the Friends building is gone. The Serum Center is gone. The Laundry building is gone. The Power Plant is gone, or almost gone.

"And, surprise, surprise! With half of the buildings ground into dust and the rest halfway into the grave, the IHPA bravely takes a stand."